• Slug: Audio-Cn2Go
• Runtime: 5:30.
• Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

(Music)

THIS IS YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2GO BRIEFING.

(Bring up music briefly and duck below and out )

I’M Emily Mai ( go to story )

EV Chargers to expand in Arizona (Autriya/Wrap)

HOST INTRO

ARIZONA ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVERS WILL START TO SEE MORE CHARGING STATIONS ALONG MAJOR FREEWAYS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THE STATE IS ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE A PLAN TO EXPAND EV CHARGERS APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
CRONKITE NEWS’ AUTRIYA MANESHNI AW-tree-yuh MAH-nesh-nee) REPORTS ON WHAT THIS APPROVAL MEANS.

———–

THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO 11-MILLION DOLLARS AND WILL GET ANOTHER 16 MILLION IN OCTOBER. THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO UPGRADE AND DEVELOP EV CHARGING STATIONS ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS 8, 10, 15, 17 AND 19. THESE HIGHWAYS ARE KNOWN AS THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL CORRIDOR AND ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 20-PERCENT OF ALL VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED IN ARIZONA.

DIANE BROWN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ARIZONA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP EDUCATION FUND. SHE SAYS THIS PLAN CAN HELP REDUCE RANGE ANXIETY.

“Poll after poll has highlighted that many Arizonans and many Americans are really interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, however, have concerns if they will be able to get from point A to point B.”

ADOT’S PLAN HAS SEVERAL GOALS. BUT THE MAIN ONE IS TO DEVELOP ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS RESILIENT, ACCESSIBLE, EQUITABLE AND RELIABLE.

BROWN SAYS THIS APPROVAL IS A STEP TO MAKE SURE THE STATE GETS THERE.

 

“The ADOT plan really provides an opportunity to make sure that our state is well positioned to reap the benefits of transportation electrification, from an economic in air quality and a public health perspective.”

ADOT WILL BEGIN UPGRADING CURRENT STATIONS NEXT SPRING. NEW STATIONS WILL START BEING INSTALLED THE FOLLOWING YEAR. EACH CHARGING STATION WILL BE NO MORE THAN 50 MILES APART WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THE MONEY COMES THROUGH THE BI-PARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND JOBS ACT THAT CONGRESS PASSED LAST YEAR.

AUTRIYA MANESHNI, CRONKITE NEWS.

New Motorcycle law set to take effect (Autriya/Reader)
ARIZONA MOTORCYCLISTS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO GO BETWEEN LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE AT A STOPLIGHT. THIS IS CALLED “LANE FILTERING” AND IT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR IN MARCH. THE LAW WILL GO INTO EFFECT THIS SATURDAY.

MOTORCYCLISTS CAN DO THIS AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT GOING FASTER THAN 15 MILES PER HOUR.. AND THE ROAD THEY ARE ON HAS A SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MILES PER HOUR OR SLOWER.

Robert Sarver (Sadie/Reader/ AP )
THE PRIMARY OWNER OF THE PHOENIX SUNS AND THE PHOENIX MERCURY HAS STARTED THE PROCESS FOR SELLING BOTH FRANCHISES. ROBERT SARVER’S MOVE COMES JUST OVER A WEEK AFTER THE NBA SUSPENDED HIM OVER WORKPLACE MISCONDUCT. AN INDEPENDENT REPORT COMMISSIONED BY THE NBA FOUND SARVER REPEATEDLY USED RACIST SPEECH AND HAD HOSTILE BEHAVIOR TOWARD EMPLOYEES. SARVER HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FROM THE NBA FOR A YEAR AND MUST PAY A MAXIMUM FINE OF TEN MILLION DOLLARS.

Banned books week (OLIVIA DOLS/EMILY /Cut and Copy)

CERTAIN BOOKS ON SCHOOL SHELVES WON’T BE FOUND AFTER A NEW LAW TAKE EFFECT SEPTEMBER 24 IN ARIZONA. THE LAW BANS BOOKS IN CLASSROOMS THAT REFER STUDENTS TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL….SPECIFICALLY SEXUAL CONDUCT, SEXUAL EXCITEMENT OR ULTIMATE SEXUAL ACTS. TEACHERS ARE UNCERTAIN WITH WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE TAUGHT ACCORDING TO GAELLE ESPOSITO (Guy elle es puh zee toe) – A LOBBYIST AT THE STATE CAPITAL WHO WORKS ON EDUCATION POLICY.

“We are very concerned about the impact that this incredibly vague bill language would have on teachers and students.. who are trying to access not just, ya know, new materials that reflect their perspective but also materials that have been utilized in classrooms for a long time.”

CRONKITE NEWS REACHED OUT TO REPRESENTATIVE JAKE HOFFMAN. HE SPONSORED THE BILL BUT HE DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR COMMENT. HOWEVER, HOFFMAN DID SPEAK DURING A HEARING ON THE BILL ABOUT IT’S IMPORTANCE.

(2:27:38-2:27:57 )
“At the bottom line.. this bill is about protecting kids from sexucally explicit material. We need them learning math, reading, writing, and other incredible important educational materials that will help prepare them for a vibrant and prosperous future, not worrying about sexually explicit material.”

THE BAN HAS TEACHERS WORRIED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY DO ASSIGN A BOOK THAT GOES AGAINST THE LAW. THEY COULD FACE FINES, LOSE THEIR JOBS OR THEIR CERTIFICATIONS.

(bring up music under very last track and post up in the clear for a couple of seconds and duck below)

WE HAD HELP TODAY FROM OLIVIA DOLS. SPECIAL THANKS TO AUTRIYA MANESHNI WHO PRODUCED OUR SHOW. . (list everyone who contributed for the show including the producer credit as well)

(Bring up music and duck below)

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORIES YOU HEARD IN TODAY’S NEWS UPDATE, BY GOING TO CRONKITENEWS-DOT-AZPBS-DOT-ORG.

THAT’S ALL FOR YOUR CRONKITE NEWS 2 GO. I’M EMILY MAI .

(Music out)